The crunching stopped. The paranoia began. You’re not paranoid if someone is really out to get you…but you don’t know that yet. Where there are footsteps there are eyes. What is watching you may mean you no harm, but it might. Why was I being followed? Why was there someone unauthorized on my property? A wild animal I could understand. Nothing to fear there. Except that bobcat I was told about. I can handle this, can’t I?

This could be an opportunity. Looking to break the boredom. Searching for adventure. But I only want to stray from boredom so far. I only want a child’s portion of adventure. If I like the feeling of present moment consciousness, I’ll sign up for more but just a taste for now.

Maybe this is it. Maybe I’ll have corralled all of my narcissism and naive beliefs into one event and they will be purified in reality’s… Yikes, it’s moving again, towards me. Where’s a branch or a rock or machete in the jungle when you need one? I turn and crouch in my fighting stance. Hands up. Knees bent. Ferocity. Bruce Lee and Ninja Turtles taught me most of what I know about mortal combat. But I was already out maneuvered.